The 30th and final episode of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast is upon us with co-hosts Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs of EuroLeague.net and Sport 24's Vasiliki Karamouza preparing themselves – and you – for what to expect this week in Abu Dhabi.

The Fantasy Challenge Podcast presents the Final Four episode

The 30th and final episode of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast is upon us with co-hosts [Javier Gancedo](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fganchetto&data=05%7C02%7Cigor.petrinovic%40euroleague.net%7Cd31497b64394488cb00c08dd8bb37e6b%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638820325223923622%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5tNH%2BQWNoYSgCFd0ChRRhky4K9vFi3ebTNQT8Dwp1zQ%3D&reserved=0) and [Frankie Sachs](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FMrEuroleague&data=05%7C02%7Cigor.petrinovic%40euroleague.net%7Cd31497b64394488cb00c08dd8bb37e6b%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638820325223944385%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IGy%2BEGWZkAc794Ikvk2coJH9JO1ZniZQzAvgXeHl4GY%3D&reserved=0) of [EuroLeague.net](http://EuroLeague.net) and Sport 24's [Vasiliki Karamouza](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fkaramouza_vas&data=05%7C02%7Cigor.petrinovic%40euroleague.net%7Cd31497b64394488cb00c08dd8bb37e6b%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638820325223955177%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=iWMdkeGl8BL43%2FwZ10BoQVxeAiWr2tTRDPAml3GIwl8%3D&reserved=0) preparing themselves – and you – for what to expect this week in Abu Dhabi.

The gang discusses who they like from all four teams – [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/roster/mco/?season=2024-25), [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/roster/ulk/?season=2024-25), [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/roster/oly/?season=2024-25) and [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-bc-athens/roster/pan/?season=2024-25). How will the potential return of [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) from injury affect things? Where does "Final Four Nunn" rank among "home Nunn" and "new-contract Nunn"? Why does Frankie like [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) most of all players at the Final Four? And why do they all like [Tarik Biberovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tarik-biberovic/006961/)?

All of these topics were discussed – and more – in the Final Four episode. Take note, while Javi shares some excellent advice about the third-place game, it appears that Frankie has already wrapped up the win in the race between the three of them. So who do you trust the most? With only two games nights left this season, choose wisely with your final picks. And as always, good luck to our fantasy friends. And we'll see you next season!

The Fantasy Challenge Podcast presents the Final Four episode 

Frankie, Javi and Vasiliki join forces for the last episode of the season

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-05-23T15:00:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v AS Monaco (2025-05-23T18:00:00.000Z)

For the first time ever, more than 20 influencers from around the world are coming together for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi as part of the EuroLeague’s Amplifier Program.

EuroLeague Amplifier Program is ready to leave its mark at Final Four in Abu Dhabi

For the first time ever, more than 20 influencers from around the world are coming together for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi as part of the EuroLeague’s Amplifier Program.

This crew of creators—from basketball content savants to lifestyle and travel trendsetters—has a combined reach of almost 15 million followers on Instagram (14,985,400) and over 19 million on TikTok (19,326,800). They’re flying in from Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Turkiye and the United Kingdom to join their UAE counterparts, and they’ll be giving their communities a front-row seat to everything happening at the Final Four and beyond. Among the 18 influencers are [Elvis Ude](https://www.instagram.com/thatkidelvis/) (Spain), [Ovie Soko](https://www.instagram.com/oviesoko/) (UK), [Valentina Vignali](https://www.instagram.com/valentinavignali/) (Italy), [Berk Keklik](https://www.instagram.com/uberkuloz/) (Turkiye) and [Shehab Alhashemi](https://www.instagram.com/shihabkoo/) (UAE).

In Abu Dhabi, these content creators will be able to experience sport, culture, and entertainment, all while showing the world what the EuroLeague is all about: passion, fun, and bringing people together. With exclusive access to the event and behind-the-scenes moments, these creators will dive into everything the league has to offer—from the Final Four games to the FanZone and the adidas NextGen EuroLeague—and bring fans along for the ride.

Away from the court, the partnership with Experience Abu Dhabi will allow the content creators to explore local culture, visit iconic landmarks, and try some of the exciting attractions Abu Dhabi has to offer, as they capture the full vibe of the city and share it with millions of fans across the globe.

The goal of their presence is to help bring in a younger audience and provide a different perspective at the Final Four, which in turn will help boost the reach of the EuroLeague. [Brisco](https://www.instagram.com/brisco_s3/), a former world champion freestyle basketball performer, will also perform during the NextGen EuroLeague Championship Game. 

The EuroLeague Amplifier Program will allow the EuroLeague to open up to new communities, connect cultures, and turning the Final Four weekend into something bigger than basketball. The influencers will help spread the energy of #EveryGameMatters during their stay in Abu Dhabi.

List of content creators heading to Abu Dhabi as part of the Amplifier Program:

[Ovie Soko (UK)](https://www.instagram.com/oviesoko/)

[Valentina Vignali (Italy)](https://www.instagram.com/valentinavignali/)

[Berk Keklik (Turkiye)](https://www.instagram.com/uberkuloz/)

[Shehab Alhashemi](https://www.instagram.com/shihabkoo/) (UAE)

[Elvis Ude (Spain)](https://www.instagram.com/thatkidelvis/)

[Tresco (Spain)](https://www.instagram.com/tresco_ball/)

[Pol Fores (Spain)](https://www.instagram.com/polforess/)

[Marta Diaz (Spain)](https://www.instagram.com/martaa_diiaz/)

[Reda Ouahbi (France)](https://www.instagram.com/rookicks_/)

[Brice Coyere (France)](https://www.instagram.com/brisco_s3/)

[Joanna Hanna (France)](https://www.instagram.com/joanahanna/)

[SBB (UK)](https://www.instagram.com/sbb_uk/)

[George Lentzas (Greece)](https://www.instagram.com/george_lntz/)

[Amal Bin Haider (UAE)](https://www.instagram.com/amalbinhaider/?hl=fr)

[Andrej Mangold (Germany)](https://www.instagram.com/dregold/)

[Marco D’Uva](https://www.instagram.com/__iyb__/) (Italy)

[Tommaso Marino (Italy)](https://www.instagram.com/tommy_marino1/)

This initiative will deliver the #EveryGameMatters essence to a wider audience

AS Monaco has provided its fans with some more good news ahead of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four by confirming the renewal of Matthew Strazel's contract until 2029.

Matthew Strazel renews at Monaco until 2029

[AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) has provided its fans with some more good news ahead of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four by confirming the renewal of [Matthew Strazel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matthew-strazel/008099/)'s contract until 2029.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">🚀 En route vers le Final Four de l&#39;Euroleague, Matthew Strazel prolonge l&#39;aventure avec la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> ! 💎<br><br>🌟 Le médaillé d&#39;argent olympique et quadruple champion de France reste sur le Rocher jusqu&#39;en 2029 🇲🇨🔒<br><br>🗣 Communiqué et réaction à retrouver sur notre site 📝… <a href="https://t.co/b9KZZ7reT9">pic.twitter.com/b9KZZ7reT9</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1924831500333109615?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Strazel is enjoying a career year in his sixth EuroLeague campaign to date, having averaged 8.4 points, 1.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists while playing in all 39 games for Monaco this season. He has the chance to build on his numbers at the Final Four, with Monaco taking on Olympiacos Piraeus in the semifinal.

The 22-year-old spent the first three years of his EuroLeague career with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne after coming through the club's youth academy, then in 2022 he moved to the principality by joining Monaco.

Matthew Strazel's best plays of the 2024-25 season

“I feel at home here in Monaco. That's all I want, to find a home with an organization and a club that's ambitious," Strazel told Monaco's club website. "The management are ready to invest in me, which is why I decided to sign a new contract. I want to continue to progress, both individually and collectively, with this team. I'm looking forward to continuing and seeing what the club will become over the next few years.”

More Monaco News

A few days away from the Final Four, the talented guard has committed his future to the club

The first team to land in Abu Dhabi for the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four was AS Monaco, and it was greeted by loud and harmonious song. Members of the Mubarak Al Atiba Group were on hand to perform the Al-Ayyala, a traditional Emirati cultural performance.

Monaco welcomed to Final Four with Al-Ayyala ceremony

The first team to land in Abu Dhabi for the [2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/final-four/) was [AS Monaco,](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) and it was greeted by loud and harmonious song. Members of the Mubarak Al Atiba Group were on hand to perform the Al-Ayyala, a traditional Emirati cultural performance. The same process was repeated when [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-bc-athens/roster/pan/?season=2024-25) and [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/roster/oly/?season=2024-25) touched down a few hours later.

Originally a ceremony used to welcome victorious warriors home from battle, today the Al-Ayyala is often performed to greet honored guests, such as the teams coming to Abu Dhabi to compete for the EuroLeague crown.

The ceremony consists of roughly 20 men in two rows facing each other, holding thin bamboo sticks that represent spears or swords. In between them are musicians beating drums, while the men chant melodic greetings. There were two falcons, with their handlers, among the performers.

The players were also offered traditional Arab coffee as part of the welcome ceremony.

The Monaco players were caught off guard by the ceremony with [Jaron Blossomgame](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jaron-blossomgame/011231/), [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) and [Mam Jaiteh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) quickly whipping out their phones to film the ongoings.

While most of the players headed to their rooms after arriving, a few stopped by the cameras to answer a couple of questions. Monaco superstar [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/)  expressed how happy he is to be here.

His Panathinaikos counterpart and EuroLeague MVP [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) sounded confident when it was his time to talk: "I feel great being here in Abu Dhabi. During our playoff run, I told my team we can't miss it. We have to be there. It's a great feeling. We will play two more games now and potentially win the championship. 

"Ultimately, you have to go out there and put your best efforts to win the game and get a victory. It will be a team effort, but for sure, I will be ready. We have much more experience this year. It's my second year in the EuroLeague. I know what to expect a little bit more, so I'm going in with a little bit more experience, which helps."

All of them were greeted with the traditional Emirati Al-Ayyala performance

Three teams have already touched down in Abu Dhabi

Igor Petrinovic explains why Panathinaikos BC should not be underestimated at the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four.

2025 Final Four: The case for... Panathinaikos

A sign of a great team is knowing how to win. That means not just playing well and winning when things are clicking, but even more so, it means pulling out victories when not everything is going your way. The reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) checks all those boxes.

The defending champs obviously proved their greatness last season, but every campaign is a new story. With the expectation and goal of repeating their climb to the throne, the Greens showed on occasions during the regular season how dominant and seemingly unbeatable they can be.

However, what made Panathinaikos great is its fair share of bumps and obstacles along the way, which it managed to overcome to find its way to Abu Dhabi.

The 7th Star | “We Broke the Curse” - How Panathinaikos Made History Again | Documentary

### The injuries and the struggles

Coach Ergin Ataman's squad, with every single important piece of the championship team returning this season, had a slow start in October and November. They had just eight wins after 15 rounds to start the season and sat 10th place in the standing. Then came a gruesome leg injury to All-EuroLeague center and the team’s main source of energy, [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/), to start the 2025 calendar year. Then [Omer Yurtseven](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/omer-yurtseven/005353/) got injured, too, so the Greens had to bring in two centers – [Wenyen Gabriel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wenyen-gabriel/013383/) and [Tibor Pleiss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tibor-pleiss/lhk/) – just to have a big body in the paint.

But Panathinaikos got safely to the harbor thanks to EuroLeague MVP [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) taking the reins and putting on display some remarkable performances. [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) had the best season of his career, while [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) was showing up in big games, the best of them being against Friday's semifinal opponent, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. With the likes of [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jerian-grant/011204/), [Cedi Osman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/cedi-osman/004088/), Gabriel and once recovered Yurtseven stepping up in their roles, the Greens guaranteed home-court advantage for the playoffs.

There, they showed more know-how against a gritty Anadolu Efes Istanbul, with [Konstantinos Mitoglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/konstantinos-mitoglou/007866/) stepping up alongside Nunn in a key Game 3, and Osman finishing the job with a career performance in Game 5.

### Right where they want to be

So, Panathinaikos advanced to Abu Dhabi. Was it in impressive fashion? No. Was it dominant? No. Were there worries about the team’s lack of size behind Hernangomez? Absolutely. Were there doubts from outside looking in? Every step of the way.

But, Panathinaikos overcame it all.

And that is exactly what makes this team even more dangerous.

They had their injury problems. Their stars had off nights in important games. They had many games where they struggled offensively, or defensively, for great portions of the night.

Yet, they would produce big fourth-quarter comebacks. Their stars would ignite at just the right time. Players would step up to fill in for the injury absences.

And the Greens got back to the Final Four, where Coach Ataman confirmed to SKWEEK that they will be counting on the services of Mathias Lessort once again.

With or without the big man from Martinique, who wants to bet against the defending champ back at the Final Four, a place where it aimed to be all along?

Me neither.

Igor Petrinovic explains why the Greens should not be underestimated at the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four

Now streaming on YouTube, “The 7th Star” – the latest documentary produced by Euroleague Basketball Originals – follows Panathinaikos BC’s postseason journey towards winning the club’s seventh EuroLeague championship.

“The 7th Star” is now available to watch on YouTube! 

How does a team go from 17th in the standings one year to winning the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title the next? The [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) team of 2023-24 had the answer.

Now streaming on YouTube, “The 7th Star” – the latest documentary produced by Euroleague Basketball Originals – follows the Greens’ postseason journey towards winning the club’s seventh EuroLeague championship. 

During the 50-minute documentary, some of the main protagonists from Panathinaikos’s run to the 2024 EuroLeague title take center stage in “The 7th Star”, including club owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos, coach Ergin Ataman, [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/), [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) and [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/).

The 7th Star | Trailer

After a manic summer in 2023, in which two-time champion Coach Ataman arrived, together with 10 new players, hopes were high for a Panathinaikos side hoping to lift its first EuroLeague championship since 2011.

Sloukas’s decision to move across the Greek divide by changing the red of Olympiacos Piraeus for the green of Panathinaikos sent shockwaves across Europe, while All-EuroLeague center Lessort had already signed on the dotted line 11 days prior. But it was the addition of Nunn in late October that really put Panathinaikos on the right track towards achieving its ultimate goal.

There were ups and downs for Panathinaikos in the playoffs and moments of adversity at the Final Four, but the Greens – led by Coach Ataman, Sloukas, Lessort and Nunn – wrote history by flipping the culture of the club and bringing a EuroLeague title back to Athens.

More Panathinaikos News

The new documentary showcasing Panathinaikos’s 2024 EuroLeague title is 

Real Madrid v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-05-26T18:00:00.000Z)

The two semifinal games at the upcoming 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four held in Abu Dhabi will feature two matchups that we saw in the two previous editions of the tournament.

The strange cases of déjà vu in the 2025 EuroLeague semifinals

The two semifinal games at the upcoming 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four held in Abu Dhabi will feature two matchups that we saw in the two previous editions of the tournament.

[Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) and [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) get the Final Four underway in a rematch of last season’s semifinal. While Fener will be aiming to get some payback and advance to the championship game for the first time since 2018, the Greens are looking to repeat what happened last season and get one step closer towards winning back-to-back titles.

Not that they need any extra motivation but it’s certain that several [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) players who were present at the 2023 Final Four haven’t forgotten the way they lost to [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) in that semifinal and will also be looking for vengeance.

“It seems inevitable that we're always gonna meet them no matter what happens, so it's almost like fate," said Monaco superstar Mike James. “So, we gotta take care of business this time.”

On the other hand, Olympiacos is more than aware of that. After three straight trips to the Final Four but zero championships in that time, Giorgos Bartzokas and his players know that they must first overcome Monaco before attempting to finally bring the EuroLeague title back to Piraeus.

Eurohoops takes a look back at what happened in the last time we had these exact Final Four semifinal matchups and what decided each contest.

Read the rest of the article [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1826397/the-strange-cases-of-deja-vu-in-the-2025-euroleague-semifinals/).

Eurohoops looks at the last time we saw these teams facing off in the semifinals

On the fourth episode of The Crossover this season, Joe Arlauckas is joined by Mike Batiste and coach Dimitris Itoudis to revisit Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens's legendary run in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague from 2007 to 2011, which saw the Greens become European champion in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

Dimitris Itoudis, Mike Batiste remember their Panathinaikos successes on The Crossover

On the fourth episode of The Crossover this season, Joe Arlauckas is joined by [Mike Batiste](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-batiste/ajv/) and coach [Dimitris Itoudis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/itoudis-dimitris/) to revisit [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/)'s legendary run in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague from 2007 to 2011, which saw the Greens become European champion in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

While Batiste was a star player at Panathinaikos alongside Dimitris Diamantidis, who also lifted these three EuroLeague titles, Coach Itoudis was an assistant to Zeljko Obradovic for the triumphs in Athens (2007), Berlin (2009), and Barcelona (2011).

With the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi just one week away, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul star Tarik Biberovic appeared on the EuroLeague & Friends podcast at the club's pre-Final Four Media Day. He was also joined at points by teammate Wade Baldwin and club mascot Yellow!

Tarik Biberovic joined by two surprise guests on pre-Final Four EuroLeague & Friends podcast

With the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi just one week away, [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) star [Tarik Biberovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tarik-biberovic/006961/) appeared on the EuroLeague & Friends podcast at the club's pre-Final Four Media Day. He was also joined at points by teammate Wade Baldwin and club mascot Yellow!

During the podcast, they discussed Vasiliki not picking Biberovic in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge, his great playoff series against Paris Basketball, how he has improved under Saras Jasikevicius, and much more.